Asthma symptoms and airway hyperresponsiveness are lower during treatment with nedocromil sodium than during treatment with regular inhaled albuterol.

In a double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter study, 212 patients with asthma whose symptoms were not controlled by as-needed use of inhaled bronchodilators were randomized to receive either 4 mg of nedocromil sodium or 180 micrograms of albuterol four times daily for 12 weeks. Asthma symptom scores (daytime asthma, nighttime asthma, morning chest tightness, and cough) and peak expiratory flow rate were recorded daily on diary cards. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was assessed by changes in diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow rate and by methacholine inhalation challenge.

Salmeterol xinafoate as maintenance therapy compared with albuterol in patients with asthma.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of inhaled salmeterol xinafoate, a long-acting beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, with that of albuterol, a short-acting inhaled beta 2-agonist, in the treatment of asthma.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.

Setting: Eleven outpatient clinical centers.

Recombinant soluble CD4 therapy in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex. A phase I-II escalating dosage trial.

Study Objective: To study the safety and pharmacokinetics and to derive preliminary evidence on surrogate indicators of efficacy of recombinant soluble CD4 (rsCD4) in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and advanced AIDS-related complex.

Design: Open label, escalating dosage, phase I-II tolerance trial.

Setting: Massachusetts General Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Stanford University Medical School, three tertiary care institutions and members of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases AIDS Clinical Trials Group.